KARACHI: Pakistan has defeated South Africa by seven wickets in the first Test match being played at the National Stadium to led the series 1-o.
In the second innings, the visitors were bowled out for 245, giving Pakistan a target of 88 to win. Pakistan achieved the target after lunch at the loss of three wickets. Azhar Ali scored 31 runs not out while Babar Azam scored 30 runs in the second innings over a convincing win.
Without any increase in the aggregate score, Hassan Ali sent Kashma Maharaj to the pavilion. Yasir Shah dismissed prosthesis captain Contum de Kok for a total score of 129.
South Africa’s seventh wicket fell at 234 and eighth at 238. South Africa’s ninth wicket fell at 240 and the last player returned to the pavilion at 245. Yasir Shah took four wickets for Pakistan. South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first and the Pakistani bowlers dominated the visitors and the entire team was bowled out for just 220 runs.
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The other Pakistani batsmen of the match played a fairly good game. A 94-run partnership between Azhar Ali and Fawad Alam supported the team. The national team was bowled out for 378 in their first innings, giving them a 158-run lead over the visitors.
The win seemed distant prospect when the visitors were 175 for 1 on Thursday evening, but a spectacular collapse led by a five-wicket haul for debutant Nauman Ali changed direction for the game.
South Africa managed just 58 on top of overnight’s score and gave an easy target of 88runs for Pakistan. Hasan Ali began dismissed nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj off the day’s first ball. Captain Quinton de Kock, became yet another victim to Abid Ali at short leg off Yasir Shah.
South Africa will likely be left to two batting collapses this Test but Temba Bavuma found balance along with George Linde for a 42-run stand in the first innings.
The national team won 23 Test matches in this stadium. On this ground, Pakistan remained unbeaten for a record 34 years. So far 46 matches have been played at the National Stadium Karachi. Pakistan has also lost two Test matches in this field.
